Cambrian sea monster

Scientists have unearthed the fossil of an ancient, filter-feeding sea creature that dates to 520 million years ago.

2 of 6

Filter feeder

Credit: Jakob Vinther/University of Bristol

The creature, dubbed Tamiscolaris borealis, used its comblike appendages to rake the seas for shrimplike food similar to krill.

3 of 6

Greenland trove

Credit: Jakob Vinther/ University of Bristol

The fossil was unearthed in sediments in northern Greenland known as the Sirius Passet formation.

4 of 6

Excavations proceed

Credit: Jakob Vinther/University of Bristol

Here, researchers on the team dig at the site. Research can only take place in six weeks of summer, when the weather is hospitable.

5 of 6

Apex predators

Credit: Esben Horn

The filter feeder was part of a group of Cambrian creatures named anomalocarids, which were the apex predators of the day. They usually had grasping claws in front for snagging prey.

6 of 6

Cambrian explosion

Credit: Yie Jang (Yunnan University)

The Cambrian explosion gave rise to a host of bizarre and complex creatures, such as this fuxhianhuiid arthropod from China,

Science Newsletter: Subscribe

Follow Us

More from LiveScience

Author Bio

Tia Ghose

Tia has interned at Science News, Wired.com, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and has written for the Center for Investigative Reporting, Scientific American, and ScienceNow. She has a master's degree in bioengineering from the University of Washington and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California Santa Cruz.